Display rack closure means



Aug. 3, 1965 J. DORIE DISPLAY ROCK CLOSURE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1963 Ow ww lNvEN'roR' Lawrence J. Dorie Aug. 3, 1965 L. J. DORlE 3,198,593

DISPLAY ROCK CLOSURE MEANS Filed April 4. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lawrence J. Dorie 1965 L. J. DORIE 3,198,593

DISPLAY ROCK CLOSURE MEANS Filed April 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Lawrence J. Dorie 534 ay/ W 32 ,4 W

Aug. 3, 1965 L. J. DORIE DISPLAY ROCK CLOSURE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 4, 1963 INVENTOR Lawrence J. Dorie ,ZMW

United States Patent 3,198,593 DISPLAY RACK CLOSURE MEANS Lawrence J. Dorie, Jeannette, Pa., assignor to Flannery and Associates, inn, Springdale Township, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 276,596 7 Claims. (Cl. 312222) This invention relates to a receptacle, particularly a receptacle adapted for the display and dispensing of merchandise such, for example, as lubricating oil in cans which may be utilized at a service station for servicing automotive vehicles.

My receptacle, which may also be termed a display unit, is adapted to be positioned alongside or near a gasoline pump on a pump island of a service station and to contain, for example, cans of lubricating oil to be poured into the crank cases of automobiles. The unit is preferably symmetrical so that cans of lubricating oil can be dispensed from both the front and the back thereof, although the features with which my invention is concerned are not dependent upon the unit being thus symmetrical or double sided. The unit is provided with closure means whereby it may be closed and locked at night or at any time when the service station is unattended to prevent pilferage of the cans of oil in it. An auxiliary opening for receiving empty cans and equipped with a closure is preferably provided. I provide means for locking the primary opening at a face of the unit (which may be duplicated at the opposite face of the unit) and means for locking in closed position the closure for the auxiliary opening for receiving empty cans, which auxiliary opening is preferably located at the end of the unit so that the empty cans may be received between banks of full cans displayed at the front and back of the unit. I provide means whereby when the front of the unit is closed the closure for the auxiliary opening at the end of the unit is automatically locked closed.

I provide a receptacle having an opening, track elements at opposite sides of the opening and closure means operable in the track elements and adapted in one position to close the opening, the closure means comprising sections which telescope with one another toward one end of the track elements to permit access through the opening to the interior of the receptacle. I provide means for latching the closure means in said position closing the opening. The opening is preferably generally upright and the closure means preferably comprise sections which telescope with one another toward the bottom of the opening. A handle may be provided, preferably on the upper section of the closure means, and the upper section may be provided at its lower portion with means engaging the upper portion of the section below it to raise the same when the upper section is raised to the position to close the opening. The handle may be turnable and latching means may be connected with the handle which are operative to latch the closure means in the position to close the opening upon turning of the handle. Means may be provided cooperating with the latching means whereby the closure means may be latched selectively in the position in which the closure means close the opening and in at least one position in which the opening is not closed.

I also provide a receptacle having an opening and closure means adapted inone position to close the opening, the closure means comprising sections which tele-- scope with one another to permit access through the opening to the interior of the receptacle, the sections having interengaging portions by which they are guided with respect to each other during relative movement. One of the sections preferably has an elongated element extending in the direction of relative movement between the sections with the other section having means embracing ice such elongated element whereby the sections are guided with respect to each other during relative movement. More specifically, such guiding of the sections with respect to each other during relative movement may be accomplished by providing one of the sections at its side edges with projections elongated in the direction of relative movement between the sections and providing the other section with a transverse element slotted to receive such elongated projections.

I further provide a receptacle having an opening, closure means comprising telescopically associated sections which in relatively non-telescoped position substantially close the opening, one of the sections being mounted to swing outwardly away from the opening about an axis adjacent one edge of the opening, the remainder of the closure means being mounted to telescope with the swingably mounted section before such section swings outwardly away from the opening whereby the entire closure means when thus telescoped may swing outwardly away from the opening. The above referred to remainder of the closure means may comprise a plurality of telescopically associated sections. In a preferred form I provide three telescopically associated sections one of which is the swingably mounted section and the other two of which are adapted to telescope with each other and with the swingably mounted section'before the latter swings outwardly away from the opening. Track means are preferably provided for guiding the sections other than the swingably mounted section when not telescoped with the swingably mounted section. Latching means may be provided for latching the closure means in position substantially closing the opening. The latching means may latch the closure means in position with the sections other than the swingably mounted section telescoped with each other and with the swingably mounted section with the swingably mounted section in position before it swings outwardly away from the opening.

I still further provide a receptacle having two openings, closures for the respective. openings, locking means movable between inoperative position in which one of the closures is free to be moved to open position and operative position in which said closure is locked in closed position and means operative upon movement of the other closure to closed position holding the locking means in operative position. Closures for the respective openings may be movable across the respective openings to close them, and a lever may be provided which is turnable between inoperative position in which one of the closures is free to be moved to open position and operative position blocking opening of said closure, a portion of the lever being disposed in the path of movement of the other closure to closed position so that movement of said other closure to closed position holds the lever in operative position;

I also provide a receptacle having a front opening and a side opening, a front closure movable upwardly to close the front opening, a side closure movable upwardly to open the side opening and a lever pivotally mounted.

inside the receptacle one end of which is disposed in the path ofa portion of the front closure to be engaged by such portion of the front closure as the front closure upon upward movement approaches the position in which it closes the front opening, such engagement pivotally moving the lever to dispose the opposite end thereof in the path of upward movement of the side closure from the position in which it closes the side opening whereby to prevent opening of the side opening when the front opening is closed. More specifically, my receptacle may have a generally uprightfront opening, track elements at opposite sides of the front opening, a front closure operable in the track elements and adapted in raised position to close the front opening, the front closure comprising sections which telescope with one another toward the bottom of the front opening to permit access through the front opening to the interior of the receptacle, the receptacle having a side opening and a side closure movable upwardly to open the side opening, and a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted inside the receptacle one end of which is disposed in the path of a portion of the front closure to be engaged by such portion of the front closure as the front closure upon upward movement approaches the position in which it closes the front opening, such engagement pivotally moving the bell-crank lever to dispose the opposite end thereof in the path of upward movement of the side closure from the position in which it closes the side opening whereby to prevent opening of the side opening when the front opening is closed.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a receptacle or display unit with portions cut away so that part of the interior of the unit is revealed, the front, rear and end closures being shown in solid lines in fully closed position, the front closure being shown in chain lines in fully open position;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the unit shown in FIGURE 1, the left-hand portion being shown with the front closure completely open and the right-hand portion being shown with the front closure completely closed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view through the upper portion of the unit showing the locking lever in operative position in solid lines and in operative position in chain lines;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view looking down on the locking lever and showing it in inoperative position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing the means for latching or locking the front closure, such closure being shown locked in closed position; FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view through the front closure with portions cut away illustrating the telescoping relationship of the sections of the front closure, the front closure being shown completely closed;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front closure in completely closed position, also showing in perspective part of the track means for guiding the front closure;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the front closeure in telescoped open position but with the swingable section in its upright position before it is swung away from the front opening on the suit;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the interior of the unit, including the locking lever which is shown in inoperative position, the position in which it is shown in chain lines in FIGURE 3 and in solid lines in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lowermost section of the front closure in fully open position, the upper sections of the front closure being omitted to promote a clearer showing of the lowermost section; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of two of the front closure sections to show their interfitting relationship.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the receptacle or display unit may be made of sheet material, preferably sheet metal with the parts welded together. One of the ends of the unit is shown at 2, the opposite end having the general shape of a mirror image i of the end 2, both ends being of minimum dimension at the top and tapering to maximum dimension at the bottom where they are connected with the base 9. The unit is surmounted by a top 90. Each end is provided with an integral generally upright flange 3 at each edge, the flanges of the respective ends extending toward each other. Fastened to the inside of each flange 3 is a track 4 in the shape of a channel, the opposed tracks 4 at the front and at the back of the unit facing toward each other and serving to guide the front and back closures. Each of the tracks 4 is disposed only at the upper portion of the end carrying it and has its lower extremity at 5 as shown in FIGURE 10, the .outer flange being cut off at 5a. This is to provide for guiding the two upper sections of the closure presently to be described by the track when those sections are not telescoped with the bottom section while leaving those sections free when they are telescoped with the bottom section so that the three sections together may be turned outwardly away from the opening in the front of the unit as will presently be described and as shown in chain lines in FIGURE 1 and in solid lines at the left-hand side of FIGURE 2.

As above indicated, the unit is symmetrical front and back so the description of the front closure also applies to the back closure. The front closure has three sections, a bottom section 6, an intermediate section 7 and a top section 3. The bottom section 6 is hinged to the base 9 of the unit by hinges 1ft so that it may be turned out away from the front opening to the position shown in chain lines in FIGURE 1 and in solid lines .at the left-hand side of FIGURE 2 and also in FIGURE 10. A lever 11 is pivoted to the bottom closure section 6 at 12 and passes through a slot 13 in a frame element 14, the lever 11 having a flange or ear 15 at its end which when the bottom closure section is fully open engages the inside face of the member 14. Preferably there is a lever 11 at each end of the bottom closure section 6.

The bottom closure section 6 has an upright body 16, a bottom 17 terminating at its inner edge at an upward flange 18 and an inturned flange 19 at the upper edge of the section, which flange terminates in a downwardly extending lip 20. The intermediate closure section 7 has an upright body 21, a bottom 22 terminating at its outer edge in an upward flange 23 and an outturned flange 24 at the upper edge of the section, which flange terminates in a downwardly extending lip 25. The flange 24 has a slot 24a extending thereinto from each end thereof. The top section 8 has an upright body 26, a bottom 27 terminating at its inner edge in an upward flange 28 and an inturned flange 29 at the upper edge of the section, which flange terminates in a downwardly extending lip 30. At each vertical edge the section 8 has an inturned flange 8a terminating in a lip 8b extending parallel to the body 26, each lip 8b entering the corresponding slot 24a in the flange 24 of the section 7. Upon relative vertical movement between the sections 7 and 8 the lips 8b slide in the slots 24a.

The sections 6, 7 and 8 are shown in extended position in FIGURES 6 and 7, i.e., in position to close the front of the unit, and are shown in telescoped position in FIG- URE 8, i,e., with the sections 7 and 8 telescoped into the section 6 so that sections 7 and 8 are below the bottom 5a of the outer flange of each of the opposed tracks 4 which enables the turning outwardly of all three sections 6, 7 and 8 while in the telescoped position of FIGURE 8 to the position shown in chain lines in FIGURE 1 and in full'lines at the left-hand side of FIGURE 2. The section 6 is also shown in outwardly turned position in FIG- URE 10, the sections 7 and 8 being omitted from FIG- URE 10 for .a clearer showing of the elements appearing in that figure.

Fastened to the bottom 22 of the section 7 is an inwardly extending member 31 having a flange 32 which extends upwardly and whose extremity 33 is inclined somewhat inwardly. The extremity 33 of the flange 32 is L) adapted to engage inside a flange 34 of'a shelf 54 forming part of the unit when the section 7 is in its uppermost position. This engagement of the extremity 33 of the flange 32 with the flange 34 maintains the section 6 against outward turning when the closure is in extended or close position as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

The closure sections 7 and 8 are guided in the tracks 4 when they are above the position in which .they are shown in FIGURE 8. The upper section 8 has two brackets 41 welded thereto which respectively bear against the inner flanges of the tracks 4. Similarly the intermediate sec tion 7 has two brackets 57 formed thereon which respectively bear against the inner flanges of the tracks 4. The lower section 6 has flanges 58 and 59 which when the section 6 is in upright position form continuations of the inner flanges of the tracks 4 and prevent the sections 7 and 8 from falling inwardly when they are telescoped into the section 6 as shown in FIGURE 8. Thus the sections 7 and 8 are guided by the tracks 4 when in their upper position and are guided by the lower section 8 when they are telescoped into that section. Also the sections 7 and 8 are guided relatively to each other by the interengagement of the lips 81) of the section 8 and the slots 24a of the section 7. This obviates looseness and rattling of the closure sections.

When the section 8 is raised from the position of FIG- URE 8 it moves upwardly by itself until its flange 28 engages the flange 24 of the section 7 after which the section 7 is carried up along with the section 8 until the flange 23 of the section 7 engages the flange 19 of the section 6, at which time the closure is in its uppermost position and completely closes the unit. In opening the unit the section 8 is moved downwardly and gravity causes the section 7 to move downward-1y along with the section 8 until the member 31 of the section 7 seats on the bottom 17 of the section 6 whereafter the section 8 continues to move down until its bottom 27 seats on the bottom 22 of the section 7. This is shown in FIGURE 8.

Mounted on the top section 8 substantially centrally of the upper portion thereof is a handle 35 (FIGURES 1 and 2) turnable about an axis 36 (FIGURE The handle has connected therewith an operating element 37 with which are pivotal-1y connected at 38 rods 39 extending laterally in both directions from the handle. The handle may contain a lock cylinder 35a (FIGURE 2) whereby it can be locked in position with the rods 39 extended outwardly as shown in FIGURE 5. When the handle is unlocked it may be turned in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 5 which has the effect of drawing the rods 39 inwardly.

The rods 39 are guided in openings 40 in the brackets 41 carried by the top section 8. When the closure is in extended position to close the unit as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 the rods 39 may be projected outwardly by turning the handle 35 to the position in which the operating element is disposed as shown in FIGURE 5 which positions the rods 39 so that their extremities overlie the tops of the tracks 4 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 7. The extremity 33 of the flange 32 engages inside the flange 34 as above described and the sections 7 and 8 are held against outward movement by the opposed tracks 4. The sections are interlocked with each other as shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7, the flange 25 lying outside the lip 20 and the flange 28 lying inside the lip 25. Thus the front of the unit is securely closed and since the closure at the back is the same as that at the front the unit can be securely closed and locked front and back when it is not attended.

The closure may be latched in at least one position in which the opening at the front of the unit is not completely closed by reason of the provision of holes 4a in the tracks 4 for receiving the extremities of the rods 39 when the closure is raised only part way to the fully extended position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

The end 2 of the unit is provided with an opening 43;

the opposite end does not have such an opening and except for the opening is a mirror image of the end 2. Tracks 56 extend inwardly at the bottom of the opening 43 and a drip drawer 42 is adapted to be supported by and to move along the tracks 56. The drip drawer 42 has a laterally projecting front face 60 which when the drip drawer 42 is moved inwardly of the unit to its full extent engages against the outer face of the end 2 and limits inward movement of the drip drawer. When the drip drawer is thus closed it closes the lower portion of the opening 43. Above the drip drawer inside the unit is a generally cylindrical can chute 61 open at both ends and inclined slightly downwardly and inwardly with its inner end disposed above the rear portion of the drip drawer 42 so that drippings from the can chute 61 fall into the drip drawer 42 when the latter is in its innermost position as shown in FIGURE 2. A spring 62 is mounted on the top of the can chute 61 so that when an empty can is pushed into the can chute it will be resiliently held therein by the spring 62 until another can is pushed in behind it. The latter mentioned can pushes the earlier mentioned can forwardly and out of the can chute 61 so that it drops into an empty can container 55 which slides on tracks 63 mounted on the base of the unit, the can container 55 being adapted to be removed through the front of the unit when the front closure is fully open as shown in chain lines in FIGURE 1 and in solid lines at the left-hand side of FIGURE 2.

Welded to the inside of the end 2 of the unit are vertical tracks 64 in which an end closure 44 is adapted to slide. The front of the drip drawer 42 has an upwardly and in: wardly inclined lip 65, and when the closure 44 is in its lowermost position its lower edge lies outside the lip 65 and engages the top of the front of the drip drawer as shown in FIGURE 9. When the closure 44 i closed as shown in FIGURE 9 it closes the opening 43 above the drip drawer 42 and prevents the drip drawer 42 from being pulled out. When the closure 44 is raised in the tracks 64 it opens the end of the unit to permit cans to be introduced through the upper portion of the opening 43 into the can chute 61. The drip drawer has a handle 66 and the closure 44 has a handle 67. v

I provide means for latching or locking the closure 44 in its downward operative or closed position when the front closure of the unit is closed to prevent access to the interior of the unit through the opening 43. Witlu'n the unit is a member 45 to which is pivotally connected at 46 an ear 47 connected with a generally L-shaped or bellcrank lever 48 one end of which extends generally horizontally and is disposed in aslot 49 at the top of one of the frame elements 14 but in the path of the top of the closure section 8 so that when the front of the unit is closed the top of the section 8 moving upwardly in the guides 4 engages the horizontal arm of the lever 48- and turns the lever 48 and the car 47 integral therewith in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot 46 viewing FIGURE 9' to position the horizontally turned foot 50 of the generally downwardly extending arm 51 of the lever 48 atop a flange 52 forming the upper edge of the closure 44. FIGURE 3 shows the top of the closure section 8 in engagement with the horizontally extending arm of the lever 48 causing the foot 50 to be disposed atop the flange 52 locking the closure 44 in closed position. Thus the closure 44 is automatically locked in closed position when the front of the unit is closed. Consequently the entire unit or receptacle can be closed and locked when it is not attended.

The unit is provided at opposite sides with parallel rods 53 which are slightly inclined inwardly and upwardly. Stacks of cans are adapted to be seated on shelves 54 and positioned against the rods 53 which maintain the stacks straight and support the cans so that they are in full view when the unit is open. When the unit is closed and locked the cans are maintained safe against pilferage.

While I have shown and described a present preferred a embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodided within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle having an opening, closure means com prising telescopically associated sections which in relatively non-telescoped position substantially close the opening, one of the sections being pivotally mounted to swing outwardly away from the opening about a fixed pivotal axis adjacent one edge of the opening, the remainder of the closure means being mounted to telescope with the pivotally mounted section before such section swing outwardly away from the opening whereby the entire closure means when thus telescoped may pivot outwardly away from the opening.

2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 in which said remainder of the closure means comprises a plurality of telescopically associated sections.

3.'A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 having track means for guiding said remainder of the closure means when not telescoped with the pivotally mounted section.

4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 having latching means for latching the closure means in position substantially closing the opening.

5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 having latching means for latching the closure means in position with said remainder of the closure means telescoped with the pivotally mounted section with such section in position before it pivots outwardly away from the opening.

6. A receptacle comprising a body having a front opening and a side opening, a front closure slidably mounted in the body movable upwardly to close the front opening, a side closure slidably mounted in the body movable upwardly to open the side opening and a lever pivotally mounted inside the receptacle one end of which is disposed in' the path of a portion of the front closure to be engaged by such portion of the front closure as the front closure upon upward movement approaches the position in which it closes the front opening, such engagement pivotally moving the lever to dispose the opposite end thereof in the path of upward movement of the side closure from the position in which it closes the side open- 8 ing whereby to-prevent opening of the side opening when the front opening is closed.

'7. A receptacle having a generally upright front opening, track elements at opposite sides of the front opening, a front closure operable in the track elements and adapted in raised position to close the front opening, the front closure comprising sections which telescope with one another toward the bottom of the front opening to permit access through the front opening to the interior of the receptacle, the receptacle having a side opening and a side closure movable upwardly to open the side opening, and a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted inside the receptacle one end of which is disposed in the path of a portion of the front closure to be engaged by such portion of the front closure as the front closure upon upward movement ap proaches the position in which it closes the front opening, such engagement pivotally moving the bell-crank lever to dispose the opposite end thereof in the path of upward movement of the side closure from the position in which it closes the side opening whereby to prevent opening of the side opening when the front opening is closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,226 12/99 Fangel 312--222 888,433 5/08 Thompson 160*202 1,273,494 7/18 Imbriani 312297 X 1,642,685 9/27 Michaelson 312-222 1,743,696 1/ 30 Vetterlein 160202 1,927,982 9/33 Howard 160-493 2,189,019 2/40 Rowe 292-36 X 2,432,455 12/47 Smith 312-298 X 2,571,071 10/51 Smith 312-212 X 3,079,989 3/63 Fentiman 160202 X 3,101,225 8/63 Penningroth 312-222 3,110,533 11/63 Le Bron 3 l2-222 FOREIGN PATENTS 355,217 6/22 Germany. 379,009 8/32 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

6. A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FRONT OPENING AND A SIDE OPENING, A FRONT CLOSURE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE BODY MOVABLE UPWARDLY TO CLOSE THE FRONT OPENING, A SIDE CLOSURE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE BODY MOVABLE UPWARDLY TO OPEN THE SIDE OPENING AND A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INSIDE THE RECEPTACLE ONE END OF WHICH IS DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF A PORTION OF THE FRONT CLOSURE TO BE ENGAGED BY SUCH PORTIONS OF THE FRONT CLOSURE AS THE FRONT CLOSURE UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT APPROACHES THE POSITION IN WHICH IN CLOSES THE FRONT OPENING, SUCH ENGAGEMENT PIVOTGALLY MOVING THE LEVER TO DISPOSE THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF IN THE PATH OF UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE CLOSURE FROM THE POSITION IN WHICH IT CLOSES THE SIDE OPENING WHEREBY TO PREVENT OPENING OF THE SIDE OPENING WHEN THE FRONT OPEING IS CLOSED. 